I want to begin with an article by Maureen killoran… Mothers come in many shapes and sizes. There are warm mothers, soft and round, likely to be found with flour on their nose, and always ready to pour you a glass of milk to go with the cookies on your plate. Some mothers are like bubbles of champagne; they surprise your senses, leave you giggly, and when you least expect it they break out with an unexpected funny face.There are sharp mothers, all edges and not easy to hold on to. They don't mean to, but when you need them, their hands and their hearts are always there… There are grouchy mothers, stressed mothers, exhausted mothers, their faces lined with worry and their spirits prematurely tired and grey. There are mothers who are wise and reliable, they are not prone to many words or to a lot of noise, but in your heart you know, that when you need them, they have already prepared. There are brave and courageous mothers, the ones you count on to be on your side and to love you even when you've gone wrong. There are loving mothers ... giving mothers ... save-the-world mothers ... too-busy-to-bother mothers ... mothers you cry for because you lost them. May we hold in our hearts the mothers we have known ... those who loved us ... and those who tried ... May we forgive the mothers who didn't get it right ... and let go of the disappointment... the grief ... and the pain. And may we always remember that mothering — and nurturing —and lovingis a task not just for some, but for all of us. Mothers come in many shapes and sizes and so does 'mothering.' As I thought about the message today, I thought, what can I say about mothers that has not already been said many times before? The answer is, I doubt seriously there is anything I can say that would be new to you or would be something you haven’t heard before. When it comes to the topic of Mothers, there is much to be said and many stories we can tell, but, let me be quick to add, the story of ''Mother'' never gets old. The Bible says, ''Give honor to whom honor is due.''
Speaking of giving honor….Men, use extreme caution, here’s some wisdom as you buy something for your wife on Mother’s day, unless you’ve already made the BIG MISTAKES…. Don't buy jewelry. The jewelry she wants, you can't afford. And the jewelry you can afford, she doesn't want. And Guys, don’t fall into the trap of buying her skimpy underwear. Your idea of the kind your wife should wear and what she actually wears are light years apart.Fellas, don't spend too much, or she will say. "How do you think we're going to afford that?" But if you spend too little, she'll think, "Is that all I'm worth?" And finally, don't buy clothes. The chances are one in seven thousand that you will get it right, and your wife will be offended the other 6999 times. Those of you who are mothers I want you to think for a moment of the time when you first realized that you were going to be a mom. Your baby bump could really be seen and for the first time you see the sonogram...as the outline of your unborn child’s head got clearer....and as you saw that tiny heart beating, you knew it was screaming out... “LIFE AS YOU HAVE KNOWN IT IS OVER”!!!! Hey, it was a really big deal… God was trusting you to shape and mold a life! I remember leaving the hospital with our first baby and thinking... they don’t even know us…. And they’re letting us carry this baby home???? Do they know that at the age of 22, we can hardly balance our check book???
But one thing you knew, You couldn’t let down your guard because you were now in charge of another life. Somehow you knew that everyone was depending on you to stay alert when everyone else was doing their own thing or going crazy around you….and somehow you managed not to kill them while you were learning to be a mother….
You got through the sicknesses, the broken bones and ego’s, the first day of school, the terrible two’s, The first date... when you prayed your son wouldn’t disgrace your entire generational gene pool, and you had to entrust your little princess to a guy who was a total idiot. When they went off to college and you had to take out a second mortgage on the house to cope, When they got married and they called you to ask what grandparent title you wanted to be called by…. And you realized you were going to be one!
Yuup, you knew that you were on the Motherhood roller coaster and there was no getting off, and you wouldn’t want to anyway!
As Jesus hung between two thieves, and was condemned of the horrible crime of being God, the mob jeered, the soldiers gambled, the religious leaders rejoiced, and Jesus looks down and sees His mother standing near the cross, faithful, loving, compassionate and trusting. There was a documentary about men who were going to be executed for capital crimes. They interviewed the men and their mothers, too. Invariably the moms would say, He’s such a good boy! The Interviewer would say, yes, but he killed 37 people!... The mom would say “I know, but he has a good heart!”
Jesus spoke seven times while He was upon the cross. His first words were a prayer to God, asking for forgiveness to His enemies. His second words were a promise to the dying thief. His third words were to His mother and to John, the beloved disciple.
To his mother He says, ''Behold your son,'' and to John who was the only one of the twelve to brave the hostile crowd, He says, ''Behold your Mother.'' Picture the scene for a moment. Three crosses with a condemned man on each cross. Jesus, God in flesh, hangs upon the central cross, seen by everyone as someone worthy of the worst death any person could die.
By her side is the disciple John. Jesus now lifts His voice and says to His mother, ''Woman, look at John. From now on He will be your son.'' Then He spoke to John, ''John from now on she is to be your mother.'' And from that time on, John took Mary to his own home. Jesus lived only 33 years, and yet, what a full life he lived!. He discharged fully His duties to man and to God. He was not willing to die and leave anything undone that He ought to do. So He arranged for His mother's future. Here we see Jesus setting a wonderful example.
When God gave the Ten Commandments, He gave us instructions as to how we should feel and act toward our moms. In Exodus 20:12, ''Honor your father and mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you”. Again we read Paul's admonition in Ephesians 6:1-2, ''Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with promise '' Even in the darkest hour of His life Jesus stopped long enough to do the right thing concerning His mother. Even while He was on the cross, bearing the weight of the sins of the whole world upon His shoulders He takes time to make sure His mom is taken care of.
Only one mother in all of history could be chosen to give birth to God’s own son, but every mother is chosen to give birth to one of a kind, with unique potential, and a special destiny.
It’s usually mom that draws the line in the sand for us and sets the boundaries…. -I can picture THOMAS EDISON'S MOTHER: "Of course I'm proud that you invented the light bulb, Thomas. Now turn off that light and get to bed!" ----Then there’s SUPERMAN'S MOTHER: "Clark, your father and I have discussed it, and we've decided you can have your own telephone line, if you’ll just stop spending so much time in all those phone booths!" How -about ALBERT EINSTEIN'S MOTHER: "But, Albert, it's your senior picture. Can't you do something about your hair? Styling gel, hair wax, anything.!!" -Can you picture ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S MOTHER: "What’s with the stove pipe hat, Abe? Can't you just wear a baseball cap like the other kids?"
I honestly believe that I have the second greatest job in the world. I mean, for me, there is nothing else that I could imagine myself doing. I love being a pastor. I know that God created me to be a pastor. But my doctor assures me that after thorough examination, I'll never have an opportunity to have the greatest job in the whole world and that is being a mother. No offence ladies, but my gal is the greatest!
Mothers are prepared, after all, Mothers are expected to do it all. One of the most amazing things to me is a mother's purse. My mom's purse and Winnie’s purse had everything in it. I mean, there was nothing I ever needed that couldn't be found in the almighty purse. Mom, do you have a Band-Aid? Sure, it's in my purse. Mom, do you have a sowing kit? Sure, it's in my purse. Mom, can I have a snack? Sure, let me find it…. Mom, I have a head ache, I brought something for that.. (it’s a mobile home)
Mothers are your first teachers…My Mother taught me LOGIC: "If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can't go to the store with me," "She gave me boundaries…If everyone else jumped off a cliff would you do it too?" My Mother taught me HUMOR: "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't you come running to me.".. She taught me RELIGION: ''You better pray that will come out of the carpet.''
She taught me about endurance ''Young man, You'll sit there until you eat everything on your plate''…. She taught me to appreciate life, ''I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'' She taught me, JUSTICE: ''One day you will have kids, then you'll see what it's like”!
I heard about one woman who said, ''Before I was married, I had three theories about raising children. Now, I have three children and no theories.'' Can anybody relate to that?
Abraham Lincoln said, ''No man is poor who has a godly mother.'' There have been many mothers in the history of the world who have impacted their sons in a tremendous way. Abraham Lincoln was one of those who because of a Godly mom, changed history as we know it. St. Augustine, the great religious leader, said “If I am Your child Oh God, it is because You gave me such a mother”!! He had a mother named Monica and it was the prayers and example of his mother, Monica, that brought him to the foot of the cross, and history was changed. Augustine, left home at 16 and was immediately caught up in the sinfulness of those he joined himself with. His dad was a pagan until the time of his death when he converted to Christianity through Monica’s influence. At 30, through his mom’s intercession, Augustine’s eyes fell on Romans chapter 13:13-14 “not in rioting and drunkenness, not in carousing and impurities…but rather put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” This event marked his life, and from that time on he was firm in his resolve to live a Godly life.
Can I hear a Praise the Lord, from some moms, who are interceding!!!
On May 9th, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson asked congress to declare the second Sunday in May as national celebration of Mother's Day. President Wilson said that this day has been set aside as a time for ''public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.''
After all that our mother's do for us while we're growing up and even after we get out of the house, they deserve their big day out of the year to be honored and to have gifts and flowers given to them, calls of love and honor, and special cards of appreciation and devotion sent to them. We pray for those who have lost their Moms…. we pray for those who have lost their children…and we pray for those who want to have Children…
James Dobson…."There are few assignments in human experience that require the array of skills and wisdom needed by a Mom in fulfilling her everyday duties. She must be a resident psychologist, physician, theologian, educator, nurse, chef, taxi driver, fire marshal, and occasional police officer. And if she succeeds in each of these responsibilities today, she gets to do it all again tomorrow." (All the moms say amen!)
George Washington…"My Mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my Mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her."
I found an interesting insight into Mom world, in the account of the mother of James and John, who came to Jesus to ask an unusual request. Her request has been seen as selfish and shallow by most who have preached on this scripture. But I see it as a brilliant view inside every loving mom’s heart.
Matthew 20:20 “Then came to Jesus the mother of Zebedee's children (Salome) with her sons, (James and John) worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. v21 And he said unto her, What do you want of me? She answered him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on Your right hand, and the other on Yourleft, in Your kingdom. v22 But Jesus answered and said, You don’t know what ye ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We are able”.
Jesus did not chastise her, he only told her that she did not know what she was asking. There was no crime in her seeking the best seats for her sons; Salome wanted her boys to excel in the Kingdom of God.
We need more mothers that will intercede on the behalf of their children, pleading with God that they may excel in their Christian walk. Interceding before God for their future and their destiny. This mom boldly stood before God on behalf of her family, desiring not only that they would do well in life, but in eternity as well.
James and John were two out of only three who were privileged to witness the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. James was the first apostle to be martyred for his faith. James is the patron saint of Spain, where his remains are buried.
John was the author of first, second, and third John and Revelation. It was John who was the only apostle who stayed by Jesus as He was crucified, and to whom Jesus entrusted His mother. He lived longer than any other apostle, being over 100 when he died a natural death.
This lets us know that John was faithful to Jesus mom, who died at around 62 years old.
Of all the grand and glorious buildings and structures that have been built, none come close to that which each mom has built. They are more magnificent than any cathedral – they are thedwelling of an immortal of soulssoul, and intended to be a place where God Himself can come to dwell. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature, as they join forces with God in performing this act of creating another human being…. What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this, to be chosen as amother?
So along with all the other magnificent things we could say about moms, we could add to the long list of accomplishments, the title of architect of souls….
Prayer….I would like all the moms to stand where you are and allow us the opportunity to bless you as you have been so much of a blessing…..
Lord, we ask your blessing on all those that You have given the high calling of motherhood. May Your Holy Spirit inspire and strengthen them. May they receive Your Grace and favor in this life, and may they look forward to eternal joy in Your presence in the life to come. Lord, watch over every mother who is with child, strengthen her faith in Your care and give her steadfast trust for her and for her unborn baby. Give her courage in times of fear or pain, give her understanding in times of uncertainty and doubt, and hope in times of trouble. Give her joy in the birth of her child.Lord, may these moms continue to grow in wisdom and understanding both in the natural realm as well as the spiritual realm, that they may impart these things faithfully to their children, and to all who depend upon them.
Stand with all "spiritual mothers", those who, may have no children of their own, nevertheless they care for the children of others -- of every age and state in life. May they know the joy andfulfillment of this motherly calling of women, whether in teaching, nursing, religious life, or in other work which promotes the dignity of every person created in Your image and likeness. We pray for all mothers who sorrow for children that have died, or that are ill or that are separated from their families. We pray for any who are in trouble or danger of any kind. Help any mom, who may still be grieving to rely on Your faithfulness, Your mercy and Your Daddy love for all of your children. Lord, together we lift these moms as they fulfill the high calling of Motherhood. Give them strength for each day, grace for each trial, comfort in every test, wisdom in every circumstance, love that will never fail, and power over every thing that would overwhelm them, In Jesus Name….
